Agartala, July 17: The centuries-old traditional Kharchi Puja has commenced at Chaturdash Devata temple in West Tripura district on Saturday followed by the rituals.

As per the rituals, Snan Yatra of 14 deities- Hara, Uma, Hari, Maa, Bani, Kumar, Ganesh, Brahma, Prithi, Ganga, Abdi, Kamesh and Himadri marks the beginning of the week-long Kharchi Puja. The Snan Yatra was followed by a colourful procession.

As the state is facing the threat of Covid pandemic 2.0, there will be no mela or cultural function this year to avoid gathering.

According to the organizers, the Bhog facility would not be available for the devotees. The animal sacrifice (only official) would take place in a camouflaged way while the devotees would be allowed to offer Pranam to the deities from a specific distance. The organizers arranged thermal screening facility at the temple premises.

Lakhs of devotees from across the country used to join the Kharchi Festival every year. But, this year, the restrictions imposed by the administration following the Corona pandemic 2.0 would not allow the devotees to celebrate the festive spirit.

According to a government website, the fourteen gods are worshipped by the royal priest Chantai. They are all Tripuri by birth, and it is hereditary one. Only members of chantai family descendants are allowed to take the post of Chantai, since the time it had started for more than 3000 years ago, and it is still continuing till date. All the attendants of chantai are also belong to Tripuri people, since the beginning and are followed. This is the only one puja is exclusively performed by the pujari or the priests belonging to Tripuri people.

The word Kharchi is derived from two Tripuri words 'Khar' or Kharta meaning or Sin, 'chi' or si meaning cleaning. Final meaning is cleaning of the sins of the people or the kingdom.